Roger federer rafael nadal

Swiss Roger Federer beat his long-time rival Rafael Nadal from Spain 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 for a fifth Australian Open title and 18th grand slam success overall. The final between Federer and Nadal was billed as the biggest final in the sport, stretching the legendary rivalry between the two tennis stars to 13 years. The 35-year-old Federer, whose record against Nadal in the grand slam finals has been poor, overcame the mighty challenge posed by the Spaniard as he made a come back from 3-1 down in the fifth set to win the championship. The Swiss player was playing his first tournament after six months due to injuries. Since 2012, when he won at Wimbledon, Federer had failed to add to his record 17 grand slam successes. The win at Rod Laver Arena made Federer the first player ever to win five titles at three different grand slams. At 35, he also became the oldest grand slam winner since Ken Rosewall won the 1972 Australian Open at 37. Nadal had also recovered from … [Read more...] about Roger Federer beats Rafael Nadal to win Australian Open title

Reigning champion Andy Murray has complained about the condition of the courts at Wimbledon, adding his name to a growing list of players who have voiced concerns. World number one Murray came through a close third round match against Fabio Fognini on Friday evening and suggested that the grass was one of the reasons he struggled. "I don't think the court is in as good a condition as previous years," said the Scot. "There are a few spots on the court, like just behind the baseline and just in front of the baseline, where there are big lumps of grass, sort of like little divots there, which I don't remember really being the case." His Italian opponent also described the court as "quite bad." Unusually high temperatures and dry conditions have caused the surfaces to become more slippery, with French player Kristina Mladenovic particularly outspoken. "Honestly, I couldn’t care less if I'd lost the match today," the French 12th seed said on Thursday after … [Read more...] about Wimbledon: Andy Murray and Roger Federer lead criticism of courts

Rafael Nadal's season is not off to a good start after his slip from the upper echelon in 2015. The 29-year-old Spaniard lost in the opening round of the Australian Open, with compatriot Fernando Verdasco defeating him 7-6(6), 4-6, 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-2 in a four-hour, 41-minute battle. Seven years after their five-hour affair in the 2009 Australian Open semifinals, Verdasco got his revenge on Nadal, collecting his 21st win at the Australian Open. A break down in the final set, Verdasco rallied back to come away the victor. "To win against Rafa here coming from two sets down is unbelievable," said the 32-year-old Verdasco, who was ranked No. 45 going into the tournament. "I think I played unbelievable - the fifth set from the break that he made me, I just started hitting winners. I don't know how, just, you know I was closing the eyes and everything was coming in and I keep doing it and I was doing well." Rare early exit Nadal, the 2009 champion, had made the Australian Open final in … [Read more...] about Australian Open: Rafael Nadal upset in the first round

Rafael Nadal's early exit on Tuesday did not spark any more big upsets in the Australian Open. World No.1 Novak Djokovic and No. 3 Roger Federer eased into the third round of the tournament, both downing their opponents in straight sets. Djokovic had the easier time of the two, defeating Quentin Halys 6-1, 6-2, 7-6(7/3). The 19-year-old Halys was playing in his first grand slam of his career. Second-seeded Andy Murray will try to keep up with his tennis comrades in his second round match against Sam Roth Thursday afternoon. Stan Wawrinka will take on Radek Stepanick to try to punch his ticket to the third round. Williams, Radwanska, Sharapova also ease to victory The upset of World No. 2 Simone Halep did not phase the top competitors in the women's division either. No. 1 Serena Williams, No. 4 Agnieszka Radwanska and No. 5 Maria Sharapova all punched their ticket to the third round as well, each also winning in straight sets. Williams, who won last years Australian Open, … [Read more...] about Australian Open: Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic cruise to third round

Five-time US Open champion Roger Federer came out on top in a five-set thriller against Mikhail Youzhny. The Swiss favorite beat his Russian rival 6-1, 6-7, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 in a grueling clash, the second five-set victory Federer has had at this year's tournament. It was the Australian Open and Wimbledon champion's 17th win in 17 matches against Youzhny since their first meeting in 2000 - but both players seemed to struggle for fitness, with Youzhny requiring medical attention in the fourth set. "It was quite a lot of fun out there. I feel quite warmed up by now," said Federer who fired 63 winners and 68 unforced errors. "It looked liked Mikhail was cramping at the end and that was hard to watch." Third seed Federer, 36, will face 35-year-old Feliciano Lopez of Spain for a place in the last 16. The No. 1 seed, Rafael Nadal, who could meet Federer in the semifinal for their first meeting at Flushing Meadows, had his problems with Japan’s Taro Daniel, going a set and a break … [Read more...] about US Open: Roger Federer beats Mikhail Youzhny in five-set thriller

Kevin Anderson hauled his 2.02-meter (6 feet 6 inches) frame up into his team’s box to kiss his wife Kelsey after securing a place in the 2017 US Open Final – the first Grand Slam final of his career. "Getting to this final means the world to me, I’m on cloud nine," said the giant South African after beating Spain’s Pablo Carrano Busta in just under three hours. "It has been a long journey to get here." Indeed, it has taken 34 attempts for the 31-year-old to reach a major final. This season he has had to battle with injury too, a hip operation keeping him out of the Australian Open earlier this year. Now Anderson is set to become the first South African to contest a US Open final for 52 years and, at 32 in the world, the lowest ranked player to make the final in the Big Apple since the introduction of the computer ranking system in 1973. Nadal as passionate as ever But the man waiting for him on the other side of the net is likely … [Read more...] about ‘A long journey’ – Kevin Anderson set for debut Grand Slam final against Rafael Nadal

Ahead of his semifinal clash with Tomas Berdych on Friday, Federer told reporters at Wimbledon about the day in Paris when his injuries finally got the better of him at grand slam time. "My knee is swollen," the 35-year-old said to his fitness trainer. "I don't feel ready to go. My back is funny. My knee is not well. What are we doing?" The answer was to go home. He emerged briefly again at his favorite tournament but lost in the Wimbledon semifinals to Milos Raonic. Then the decision was made - a break that could extend his career was worth the sacrifice of missing the Rio Olympics, the US Open and the rest of the 2016 season. It didn't take long to establish that his judgement of his body was as sound as his judgement of the flight of a topspin lob. Rejuvenated by the break, Federer looked close to his imperious best at the Australian Open at the start of this year, brushing aside upstarts like Kei Nishikori and Stanislas Wawrinka before … [Read more...] about The renaissance of Roger Federer – and the lessons for Murray and Djokovic

Rafa Nadal swept past Aleksandr Dolgopolov in three sets 6-2, 6-4, 6-1 on Monday, as the Spaniard's fine 2017 form continued. The unseeded Dolgopolov had won two of his last three meetings with Nadal, but couldn't match him this time around. It was the Spaniard's 50th win at the US Open and he makes the quarterfinals for the seventh time overall, but for the first time since capturing the 2013 title. The world number one, who returned to the top of the rankings last month for the first time since 2011, will face Russian teen Andrey Rublev after he beat Belgian ninth seed David Goffin. Rublev won 7-5, 7-6, 6-3 to become the youngest man to reach the US Open quarterfinals since Andy Roddick in 2001. "Rafa is the real champion and I am going to just try and enjoy it," Rublev said afterwards, who is looking ahead to facing one of his childhood idols. Argentina's injury-prone Juan del Potro overcame a slow start to beat Austria's Dominic Thiem in five sets 1-6, 2-6, 6-1, … [Read more...] about US Open: Rafael Nadal glides, Federer dominates, del Potro recovers

Rafael Nadal served and volleyed on match point in an almost-perfect performance to take his third US Open victory in New York on Sunday. Nadal won all 16 of his approaches to the net while his South African opponent Kevin Anderson could only manage 16 of 34. The 31-year-old Spaniard won the title 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 in 2 hours 27 minutes. The first set lasted 58 minutes, the second 39 minutes and the third 50 minutes. "I want to thank everyone for supporting me," Nadal said as he accepted the trophy and also thanked life: "I can just say thank you very much to life for that opportunity," he said. It was his sixteenth career Grand Slam win and brought him prize money of $3.7 million (3.07 million euros.) Nadal also paid tribute to his family and his team. His uncle Toni will stop travelling with him from next year: "I can't thank him enough for all the things he did for me," Nadal said. "Without him, I would never be playing tennis." He also spoke for the victims … [Read more...] about Rafael Nadal wins third US Open in New York

The men's top player, Rafael Nadal of Spain is to face 19-year-old Andrey Rublev in his quarterfinal match this Wednesday. The 53rd ranked Russian has displayed no shortage of confidence during his run to the quarterfinals, and this hasn't changed ahead of his clash with Nadal. "I have a good shots. I can play really fast," the teenager warned Nadal, who is 12 years his senior. In the evening session, Switzerland's world No. 3, Roger Federer, is to face Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina. Wednesday's first match will see women's No. 1 Karolina Pliskova, who demolished Jennifer Brady 6-1, 6-0 in the quarterfinals, face off against another American when she plays 20th seed Coco Vandeweghe. Madison Keys, one of four Americans in the quarterfinals this year, plays Estonian qualifier Kaia Kanepi. Three underdogs advance On Tuesday, the evening session ended with South Africa's Kevin Anderson reaching his first Grand Slam semifinal at the ripe old age of 31, by beating local hero Sam … [Read more...] about US Open: Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer one step away from dream semifinal